Low Rolling Resistance replacement tires: Current List

yeah I got the idea they werent that free with it, although Bridgestone had a press release for the Ecopia EP100. I understand coefficients having been involved in aerospace, I did fall over some rolling friction figures somewhere too.

I think its possible to make some broad conclusions that are safe even if not completely accurate

 

Yep that's one of the reasons I've chosen to go with the Ecopia's for my next tire purchase. I just wish they'd all include rolling resistance data with their tire spec's. Then it would make the decision really easy.

 

FHA should have a controlled test and have data posted on sidewall next to treadwear, IMHO

 

I am debating between the Firestone affinity of the ecopia 400 anythougts on how they would act with the car ..2009 prius

 

Is the F/S Infinity even a LRR tire? Hal

 

Good morning from New England. I'm new here, and I joined because I'm hoping to purchase my first Prius (2007 with 66,000 miles) later today.

I found this thread interesting and wanted to thank you all, and the gentleman who kindly put up the tire details in particular, for all of the information I'm finding here.

I have two questions, please: I noticed that the tires the dealership put on the car are Yokohama tires. I do not recall anything more about the tires. No offense to women everywhere, but I'm a woman and tires simply do not intrigue me.

What does intrigue me, however, is knowing as much as I can about a car before I buy it and once I own it. Do I need to ask any further questions about the tires? I'm buying the car from a Toyota dealer, and in fact from the dealer who originally sold this Prius new and then serviced it throughout it's lifetime before my ownership. I'm assuming they put the right tires on the car.

A more important question for any of you who have driven a Prius in LOTS of snow and ice (I live in Maine), do you suggest studded snow tires for winter? I have read numerous frightening posts about Prius vehicles, most of which I was able to put aside or have answered by the dealership's service manager. But I remain a bit concerned about hydroplaning, traction control issues, etc. I also am VERY concerned about how this car will perform in the Maine winters. It has only 5 1/2 inches of ground clearance and I'm coming from an AWD Subaru Outback. I do realize that with the purchase of a Prius I'm exchanging fantastic winter driving for fantastic gas mileage savings...but I would like to get the best performance out of the Prius possible.

I appreciate finding this forum for just that purpose.

Thanks to all of you in advance for any guidance you might have to offer to a new member of your community.

Julia

 

Cool! Thanks for doing all the research!! I will be using this info when I need new tires!

 

First of all, thanks to F8L for compiling the original list!

I'm also interested in any additional thoughts or experiences with the Continental ProContact EcoPlus tires. My current set is due for replacement and I'm close to having to make a purchasing decision. TireRack liked these tires, but I'm a little concerned about a few reviewers' reports that the tires seem to wander at highway speeds. My commute is primarily highway driving and I don't want tires that I have to babysit to keep them tracking in the lane - the commute is tiring enough as it is!

 

I just put four new Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max on my 2008 Prius. I've noticed a 5 MPG increase over my old tires so far.

 

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Thank you so much for this valuable information!

So -- studs are unnecessary then? that is good news!

 

I replaced the original tires with the Continental ProContact EcoPlus tires (in the original size) about 6,000 miles ago and have had no problems with them at all. I've make the 600 mile round trip between Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah several times on I-15 at the speed limits of 75 mph and 80 mph. I haven't perceived any tendency to wander at all. When (lack of) traffic has permitted, I have taken my hands off the steering wheel and the car has stayed in its lane for long distances.

The handling is an improvement over the original tires, especially on wet roads. The Continental tires are also quieter at highway speeds that the Goodyear Assurance tires they replaced.

 

My thanks also to F8L. Wish I'd found this posting before I did hours of research.

For the 195/55R16 size (2004-2009 Touring OEM) the 797 Revolutions Per Mile for the Ecopia EP422 appears to be correct. On TireRack the diameter of that tire is 26.1" vs. the 24.4" diameter and 854 Revolutions Per Mile of the OEM EL400's in that size. (Larger diameter = fewer Revolutions Per Mile) Using this tire could lower the speedometer reading by 6%-7%.

You can't search by Revolutions Per Mile on the TireRack web site, and their customer service reps can't do that search either (are you listening, TireRack?), but I did some legwork and found that the Ecopia EP422 in the 205/50R16 size is spec'ed at 865 Revolutions Per Mile. (This would probably correct my current 1% low speedometer reading with the OEM tires.) According to a TireRack customer service rep the 205/50R16 will fit on my 2008 Touring.

Tradeoffs between the two sizes of Ecopia EP422's are that the 205/50R16 is H-rated instead of V and has a maximum inflation pressure of 44 psi instead of 51 psi.

Does anybody have any recommendations for or against using the 205/50R16 Ecopia EP422 on my 2008 Touring? What has been the experience of those of you that have gone to wider tires?

Thanks!